BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri criticized former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s Future bloc for recent remarks calling into question his decision to convene Parliament under a resigned government.
“I am surprised at such comments from the largest parliamentary bloc,” Berri said in remarks published Wednesday.
“Parliament is the central institution and it gives legitimacy to the government and all institutions,” he told the local daily Al-Joumhouria.
He said the campaign against him by “some parties” is aimed at covering their efforts to obstruct a formation of a new government.
In a statement after its weekly meeting Tuesday, Future Movement officials described Berri’s insistence to convene the legislature to discuss non-urgent matters under a caretaker Cabinet as “unacceptable”.
The extension of Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi’s term was the main item on the parliamentary agenda set by Berri. Political feuds and questions of legality have prevented the meetings from taking place.
